16 Health Benefits for Banana Consumption

You may know that bananas are loaded with vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, but do you really know the benefits of this delicious fruit? The banana is a very tasty tropical fruit with lots of minerals and vitamins, and many health benefits if eaten frequently. It is rich in sugars but low in fat and sodium. Therefore, it cannot be absent from the daily diet, even from those who seek to lose weight.

The presence of the three antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) makes it considered a really healthy fruit, high potassium content, diuretic effects, laxatives and high energy value. It contains fiber, vitamins, carbohydrates and antioxidants, necessary to carry a varied and balanced diet. In addition to iron, some beta-carotene, B vitamins, especially folic acid.

It has a leading role in the diet of athletes and those who exercise daily, because its carbohydrate content provides energy and promotes recovery after training.

There are many benefits of this fruit, such as detoxifying the body, facilitating weight loss and delivering more energy to the body. In addition, it helps fight anemia, digestive problems, control blood pressure, strengthen hair and prevent gastric ulcers.

Health Benefits of Banana

1. Maintain Blood Pressure

Potassium, because of its role as a vasodilator, helps maintain blood pressure. Therefore, high levels of potassium in a single banana (about 10% of daily needs) can help protect you from high blood pressure, as well as heart attacks, strokes and atherosclerosis.

2. Reduce Stress and Anxiety

The high levels of potassium, together with the high concentration of tryptophan, make banana juice an excellent stabilizer of mood, able to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety.

3. It gives you energy

The banana contains three types of natural sugars: sucrose, fructose and glucose. All these are metabolized and give more energy to the body during the day. For its part, potassium helps improve physical performance, since it allows the muscles to contract properly during exercise.

In conclusion, in addition to having a delicious flavor, the banana is a very healthy fruit that can be incorporated into all kinds of food plans.

4. Improve Your Immune System

The presence of vitamin C and several B vitamins means that banana juice is a great immune booster system. Ascorbic acid can lead to the production of white blood cells and can also reduce oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals.

5. Detoxify Your Body

Dietary fiber for the digestive tract and vitamin B6 to control levels of toxicity makes banana juice ideal for cleaning the body. Stimulates the function of the liver and kidneys, eliminating salts, toxins and fats faster.

6. Energy Returns

This juice is popular among athletes, as well as those who are recovering from extensive disease or injury, as it is a great source of electrolytes, thanks to potassium. Without enough potassium in your body, your muscle function and development is affected, along with the water balance of your body and the proper function of the nervous system.

7. It helps you to sleep

Bananas are not usually praised for their tryptophan content, but this natural sedative can stimulate the release of serotonin, which helps ease the body in relaxation and sleep. A glass of this juice before bed is an excellent option for those who suffer from insomnia.

8. Improves Digestion

The high concentration of fiber found in this juice is excellent for digestion, as it helps stimulate peristaltic movement, increases the release of gastric juices and improves the efficiency of nutrient absorption.

9. Natural remedy for ulcer

One of the benefits of banana for health is its function as a treatment and prevention of ulcers in the stomach. This is because this fruit creates a protective barrier in the walls of the stomach, thus fighting against the harmful effects of excess hydrochloric acid. It also eliminates the presence of bad bacteria in the stomach, which are another cause of ulcers in the stomach.

10. The necessary sugar

The good thing about bananas is that they are sweet, but because they contain only natural sugar they are a great option for sweet lovers, and their powerful nutrients make it a super healthy food. What can you eat without guilt!

11. It contains vitamins

Bananas also have a high vitamin content. The vitamin C, containing bananas, helps strengthen the immune system and helps the absorption of other nutrients such as iron. While vitamin B-6 also occurs in this fruit, it helps the body create new cells. A banana contains the 35% vitamin B-6 required daily.

Bananas also contain fibers and can help lower body temperature in case of fever, help relieve nausea, are a natural antacid and also provide calcium.

12. Fights depression

According to a recent survey carried out by MIND among people suffering from depression, many of them felt better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain "triptophan", a type of protein that the body converts to serotonin, which is known for its relaxing effects that improve mood and make you feel happier. 

13. Pre-menstrual symptoms

Forget the pills and eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels that can affect your mood.

14. Helps in cases of anemia
The high iron content of bananas stimulates the production of hemoglobin in the blood and helps resolve cases of anemia. 

15. Provides relief from constipation
A high-fiber diet that includes bananas can help restore your bowel movement, helping them to solve the stomach problem without resorting to laxatives. 

16. For Smokers
Bananas can also help people who are trying to quit smoking. The vitamins B6 and B12 that it contains, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in it, help the body to recover from the effects of the lack of nicotine.

How to make banana juice

Ingredients
• 3 medium bananas
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1.5 cups of milk
• 1 pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Peel each side of banana and remove the extra fiber from the side of the fruit.

2. Cut the bananas into pieces.

3. Add the pieces of banana, milk and honey to a blender (add 1-2 ice cubes, if desired).

4. Mix for 2-3 minutes, until it has a uniform and fine consistency.

5. Serve and enjoy.

Side effects of banana juice

Although banana juice is very good for health, there may be some possible side effects such as gastrointestinal problems, weight gain, heart problems or muscle problems. However, these side effects only appear when too much banana juice is consumed. Drinking 1-2 glasses a day should not cause any side effects for most people.

Do not you think they are enough reasons to incorporate bananas into your diet? Eat them alone, in smoothies, as snacks, for breakfast or even dessert.